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Two of us spent Xmas week here. It was raining most of the time (not unusual for Phuket) so we spent most of the time in our beautiful mid-level room with amazing view of the bay. We usually eat out when we're in Thailand but room service dining is worth trying (esp. crab curry). If you're after a relaxing time then I recommend - but there are a few staircases involved! The suites are built on a steep hill (hence the views) but there is a buggy service.

overall, we had a wonderful stay at ayara. the hotel is beautiful, and we loved our room with its private lounge chairs and whirlpool. there is a buggy service to take you between your room to the lobby to the beach. they also gave you passes to stay at one of two beach "clubs" where you get a complimentary 500 baht chair + umbrella on surin beach. both beach clubs were excellent (although the restaurant staff at catch was horrible) and definitely two of the nicer ones on the beach strip.
biggest con for us were the cest pools of still water outside our room that were like magnets for mosquitos. we got bitten a dozen times on the first night between the two of us. not good. also, while the staff was very nice, they struggled with english and i got a lot of blank looks. but they were trying, so can't fault them for that. last thing - and i know i'm being picky - but the water in the outdoor whirlpool was "room temp", meaning cold! it was hard to enjoy such a beautiful luxury b/c we couldn't stand to be in the water for long. just seems like a waste.
anyway, here's the summary:
pros:
- beautiful room
- natural surroundings
- close to beach
- reserved area on beach
- good gym
cons:
- mosquitos!!
- food was ok - very pretty but not as tasty
- breakfast was not very good and not much variety
last hint - don't use the hotel taxi service to the airport. they charge you 1000baht, but just across the street is a taxi stand that only charges 700. and if you're feeling adventurous, we went a little farther down the street and took one of those buggy-style trucks to the airport for 600baht. and it was actually really fun! would highly recommend :)

Whilst the room was large and comfortable, we were overall disappointed with this resort. It is next to a very noisy main road and you can here it from all parts of the resort - from your room, from the restaurant at breakfast, from the pool. For us this was not relaxing and not what we expected for the price we were paying. The only saving grace of this hotel is the fact it is only a 5 minute walk to Surin Beach and you can spend the day there. But for the amount of money you're paying you shouldn't be needing to escape the resort to have a good time. Also breakfast was a very mixed bag -good fruit and pastries but the hot dishes all seemed like leftovers from the previous night's dinner - pasta carbonara or red curry. All in all a disappointing stay, and you can find much better for the same price on Phuket.

Gorgeous setting with rooms perched on top of a hill, attentive & friendly staff, short stroll to Surin beach

9,3

Gorgeous setting as resort rooms are perched on top of a hill, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby traffic & providing elevated views. Room was well-appointed and well-maintained with a large bathroom & outdoor whirlpool in the balcony where one can relax while soaking in the beautiful ocean view. Short stroll (3-5 min) to surin beach, many cheaper restaurants and spa options available there. Breakfast was a good spread. Had such a wonderful stay.

The room is luxury, large and comfortable. It is located in the hill with a beautiful and refreshing natural environment. It is very convenient to get to the Sunrin Beach. The hotel has coach service to the beach. It just needs 5 minutes. Walking is also just 10 minutes.